Pirlo More Than Just A Luxury Signing For NYCFC

There’s been a contrast of emotions at the New York City headquarters in recent weeks, as the arrival of stars like Frank Lampard and Andrea Pirlo has seen the club’s newly born status glitter with positive publicity and promise, but on the field a different story has been told.

With a healthy cash injection from the City Football Group and Yankee Global Enterprises allowing the club to splurge on three-trophy laden ‘Designated’ footballers, the Yankee Stadium outfit is able to boast the most stars out of all the MLS clubs.  Still, that is yet to prove of benefit to Jason Kreis’ team…

Sitting in ninth place and second from the bottom of the MLS’ Eastern Conference, the club has struggled to string positive results together, winning five, drawing nine and losing six in the process.

A spark of life is desperately needed in the Cityzens camp, and many are expecting the Italian midfield maestro to be the man to turn NYCFC’s fortunes around for the better.

Speaking at his official unveiling, Pirlo admitted he knew of what his arrival at the club would mean to football in the league as a whole.

“In my career I have never been someone who ends up on the front pages of magazines. I came to America not to be a tourist or make adverts, but to be a football player – it’s what I do best,” revealed the Italian.

“If I can help MLS to grow in popularity, then that’s a boost, but the important thing is the team. The season is still long and this is a new team that started from scratch. Now we need to look forward and reach the play-offs, so I’m sure with daily work we’ll achieve our objectives.”

Since Pirlo’s official unveiling on July 6, the club has gone on to draw to Toronto (4-4) and lose to New England Revolution (1-0), conceding five goals in the process – three of which Toronto’s Sebastian Giovinco managed to put past Josh Saunders in the space of nine minutes.

Goal-scoring is no problem for the club, with their first Designated Player, David Villa, having found the back of the net on 10 occasions in 17 fixtures so far this season, but its is in the backline and in the midfield where the struggles lie.

Kreis’ attempt to desperately repair his side’s porous backline has been well documented, with the club having announced the signing of Jefferson Mena earlier this month, but there is no questioning what Pirlo’s presence will do to the team as a whole.

Known for shying away from the spotlight, the 36-year-old doesn’t need words to motivate any team he plays for. His natural presence leaves many positively awestruck and having him grace the field with his visionary style of play generally allows his teammates lift their own games.

With his best position sitting just above the backline, Pirlo will naturally add extra cover to NYCFC’s backline- the former Milan man makes on average 1.6 tackles per game as well as 1.5 interceptions, according to WhoScored.

With his ability to read the game eloquently and intercept play with style, Pirlo will naturally land up picking up attempted balls made to penetrate City’s defence and float it up field.

In addition, is ability to pick a target and perfectly execute it to its destination will automatically relieve pressure for his midfield companions, while his work on set pieces will undoubtedly guarantee a few more goals to go City’s way.

For many years the classy player has instinctively picked apart some of Europe’s best teams, and with the status of the league undeniably lower in the US, things should come effortlessly for him.

Many have pin-pointed the solitary reason in Pirlo’s decision to join the struggling NYCFC was due to the $6 million paycheck he is expected to receive. However, its well known that the Bearded Genius isn’t in it for the money, but rather to expand his horizons and take on a new challenge – something he did with Juventus when he left Milan back in 2011.

“MLS is growing as a League,” he added. “I came to New York City as a player, so my objective is to take the team as high as possible, preferably to victory. If that helps Major League Soccer grow, then that’s welcome too, but I was signed as a New York City FC player and to do what’s best for the team.

“Juventus was coming from a bad series of years. That was a challenge. What’s important to me is that this is a challenge and I'm working for a team that is interested in obtaining important results.”

Success has followed Pirlo wherever he has gone, and while his solitary presence cannot change the full dynamic of a team that is still gelling and developing into its own, fans can be assured that the one-time World Cup winner is no dubious luxury signing.